Nearly Double the Speed, Alcohol Limit: Westport Man Gets DUI

Westport police caught a driver on radar traveling 47 mph in a 25 mph zone on Post Road West at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning, according to police.

When the officer pulled out to initiate a traffic stop, the driver failed to stop at the red light at Post Road West and Kings Highway North, police said. 

As the driver continued on Post Road West, he was observed three-quarters of the way over the double-yellow line, traveling against oncoming traffic, and still at a high rate of speed, police said.

After speaking with the driver the officer could smell alcohol on his breath and noticed his eyes were glassy in appearance, police said. The driver failed the field sobriety tests and was taken into custody. He submitted to the breath test with the following results: 0.1738 and 0.1803, according to police.  

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Westport police charged 26-year-old Samuel Sagnella, of 4 Witch Lane, Westport, with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, failure to obey control signal, failure to drive in proper lane, illegal operation of a motor vehicle under suspension and travelling unreasonably fast, police said.

Sagnella was released after posting a $500 cash bond. He is due in Norwalk Superior Court September 26.

In 2006 Sagnella was arrested and convicted of operating a motor vehicle under suspension in Westport, according to the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch website.